Side dish: An update on SwitchBack

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Year-and-a-half-old SwitchBack Coffee Roasters (switchbackroasters.com) recently moved from 1637 W. Colorado Ave. to 1635 W. Colorado Ave. — not a long haul. But the former Klesi Music Shop location does afford owners Kyle Collins and Brandon DelGrosso extra space for guests to sample coffees made in 15 different styles (pour-overs, drips, espresso machines, French presses, etc.), by donation. Just note: The business partners continue to only sell beans to-go versus cups of coffee.

SwitchBack isn't a coffee shop, really, though it does have couches and Wi-Fi for those who care to linger. The business acts as more of a wholesale roaster, distributing to outfits like Jives Coffee Lounge and Pikes Peak Brewing Company, as well as local churches. SwitchBack now also air-roasts a special Yobel Market blend with fair-trade Ugandan coffee; all the house coffees, for that matter, are fair-trade, and around one-third are organic.

Catch a grand opening with free coffee, snacks and purchase discounts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14. Also look for monthly, educational coffee tastings beginning in August.

Crêpes to classes

France native Blandine Brutel, who operated Wholly Crêpe inside the Chapel Hills Mall in 2010, recently launched The French Kitchen (tfkcc.com), a Rockrimmon-area, home-based business that instructs guests on how to prepare traditional French recipes, with time-saving techniques. Classes — focusing on creations ranging from appetizers and quiches to chocolate desserts like a triple-layered praline-mousse Royal Gourmet Cake — are hands-on and limited to six people. Summer specials are currently available, as is babysitting; register online.

À la carte

• A newsletter distributed July 4 from Vietnamese Garden (3043 W. Pikes Peak Ave., vietnamesegarden.net) noted a temporary closure, stating, "please watch your e-mail for time and place of reopening."

• Learn more about the Colorado Cottage Food Act on which we reported earlier ("Baking powder keg," News, March 8) during a free webinar via Colorado State University Extension from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 11. The webinar will cover such topics as licensing, insurance, food safety training and eligible products. Find out how to participate at ext.colostate.edu/sam/events.html; otherwise, catch a session later at cofarmtomarket.com.